The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics

1968 did change everything and Chris Matthews recalls it with readable detail. I learned so much more than I knew previously after growing up during that era. It clarified the murky and made me think about those who impacted 1968 in a new way.

Playing with Fire is a must read for political junkies. The book provides a detailed and vivid account of the 1968 election and the changes it brought about. The parallels with our present state of disaster are intriguing.

Not only is O'Donnell good looking and smart. He can write. I am only about one-fifth into the book and have other things interfering, but each time I pick it up I am amazed at how readable, yet packed with information it is. His writing is neither dense nor full of meaningless details that suck the life out of a good subject. I was in college when JFK was assassinated. I remember a lot from those years but I am learning so much more. It is difficult to put this book down. If you have any interest in that period of time you will enjoy this immensely. Bravo!!

A wonderful look back at the history of our country in 1968. It reads like a novel rather than a history book. The real plus is having the book read to you by the author, Lawrence O'Donnell, who is one of the smartest news journalist you will find on TV. Subtlely, he connects the dots to how the state of politics in 1968 bred the election of 2016. A must read for political junkies .

Detail and consequences of the 1968 election. The book often revolves around the presidential candidacy of Sen Eugene McCarthy, a conflicted figure in a conflicted year. A political survey of a consequential year that tries hard but doesn’t rise to the best of the political histories and biographies that I have read of that time.

O’Donnell tends to be a little repetitious and superficial as he tried to pack all the events of the year into one year. He keeps trying to force a link to the Trump phenomena where it doesn’t really work, which is annoying. While O’Donnell is a detailed reporter and relates stories I had not heard before, he isn’t a smooth storyteller. We should deeply care about this, but don’t because I’m not sure that he does.

Lawrence O'Donnell writes as well as he speaks: clearly, compellingly, and with a degree of competence unrivaled in contemporary journalism. His history of a milestone year in modern American politics explains where it all started and how it all happened, exposing the fatal fault line in American culture that led to the election of Donald Trump.

Although I lived during the time related in this book, and knew the major events that occurred, this book showed me so many things that I had no clue had happened, let alone why. It is truly a must read for everyone who wants to understand how we got to where things are today. Lawrence O'Donnell also read the Audible version.

I never knew the 1968 election produced so much violence and chaos. This book is a must read in hopes to incorporate 1968-type courageous acts, and to avoid making 1968-type blunders. Starting from chapter 27, especially, it gets graphic but very intriguing. I got teary eyed during the epilogue--and liked the "what-if" questions.

Generally speaking, I thought the writing was great.The main disagreement I have is on Kindle's pages 409-110, stating "and that what he did to win the presidency was his greatest crime." I would have inserted a parenthetical phrase between the words did and to, briefly describing the results (# of American soldiers killed, etc.) from the Chennault affair, because this horrific event deserves reiterating its nefarious consequences. There was also a double wording structure, somewhere, that the uses of only one word would have been sufficient.

Nonetheless, I think a movie should be made of this book entitled, something to the effect, "Violence, Death and Chaos.from the the 1968 Election."

Mr. O'Donnell has captured the essence of the l968 election with this book. I was 13 years old then, but it was the first election I paid attention to...and it led me into politics as a result. My recollection as a teenager is, of course, limited, but this book puts it in a larger context.

Mr. O'Donnell has captured the essence of the l968 election with this book. I was 13 years old then, but it was the first election I paid attention to...and it led me into politics as a result. My recollection as a teenager is, of course, limited, but this book puts it in a larger context.

Kudos to O'Donnell for this in depth account of the people and times that led to the divisions of today. A must read for anyone who was there. This book along with Ken Burns' outstanding documentary on Vietnam should be required reading in high school. Unless more people understand the past we will continue to repeat it. 5 Stars.

Riveting. Reads like the best fiction, but it happened. I was in high school in 1968, and those memories were brought back with stunning force, Fifty years later... and the reality of what happened, and of why it matters so much today, is delivered in a way that is as spell-binding as anything I have read.

Husband thought it was very enlightening. Depending on your political views, As one who is too liberal to be conservative and too conservative to be liberal, it pretty much explains our history. Focused on one aspect of life in the United States? Being more concerned about things that are beyond the control of the individual rights. It takes two wings to fly this bird. Checks and balances.

This is by far the best and most comprehensive book I have read about the '68 presidential election. It brought back many memories, but it also contains many back-stories about the election I did not know.

Excellent book! Well written and easy to follow. Contains more facts and insights about the 1968 election than I previously knew. Puts facts I did know into much deeper context. Would highly recommend to anyone interested in history and politics of that period.